Starter drive control



W. L. M GRATH STARTER DRIVE CONTROL Filed Oct. 24, 1932 A ril 30,- 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR BY 11/ l I 7770 rat/v A ORNEY April 30, 1935. w, L. MCGRATH 1,999,199

STARTER DRI VE CONTROL Filed Oct. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR TTORNE Y April 30, 1935 w. L. MCGRATH 1,999,199

STARTER DRIVE CONTROL 9 Filed Oct. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR U/LZLLClm/L. Wing/nth TTORNEY Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES summit nmvn coN'rnoL William L. MeGrath, Elmira, N. m, m in Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application October 24, 19:2, sci-m No. 639,355

(oi. zsc-as) 10 Claim.

This invention relates to a starter drive control for internal combustion engines and more particularly to an arrangement for automatically operating the starting mechanism of internal combustion engines under the control of the ignitlon switch key thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel semi-automatic engine starter control'arranged so that the operator starts the cranking action as an incident to placing the engine in operative condition, and the cranking is interrupted either by the self operation of the engine or, if the engine fails to start, by the operator incidental to his rendering the engine .inoperative.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the starting mechanism is normally urged toward operative \position but is arranged to be moved out of such position by the self operation of the engine and is held out by a latch controlled by the ignition switch key.

A further object-is to provide such a device which is simple and economical in construction and efficient and reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art fromthe following description taken 'in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention in normal or idle position, certain parts thereof being shown in section:

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions assumed during the self-operation of the engine;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly diiferent embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in their normal or idle I positions;

40 Fig. 4 is a semi-diagrammatic view partly in section of another embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in cranking position; and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the ignition switch illustrated in Fig. 4 in the engine-running position.

45 Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a starting system for an internal combustion engine including a motor I, a battery 2, grounded at 3, and connected by a lead 4 to a starting switch 5 which in turn is con'nected by a lead 5 to the starting motor, the motor beinggrounded to complete the starting circuit.

A cranking connection is provided between the motor and a member such as a flywheel gear,

I of the engine to be started, which ishere il- 55 lustrated in the form of a pinion"! which is loosely journaled on the extended shaft. 2 of the motor I and is connected thereto through an overrunning clutch II which has a spline connection with said motor shaft 9 and is arranged to be moved longitudinally thereon'by 5 means of a shifting lever I2. This cranking connection may be of any suitable construction and is illustrated as the type shown and described in applicant's prior Patent 1,705,938 patented March 19, 1929. Since the particular 10 form of cranking mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it is believed "that a further description thereof is unnecessary, it being merely noted that. the drive is of such type that an engaging member such as the pinion l :15 is moved longitudinally into and out of mesh with the engine gear 1 by the rocking motion of the lever I2, and that thepinion 8 is permitted to overrun the motor shaft 9 when the engine starts. '20

According to the present invention, the lever I2 is suitably pivoted at I3 to an extension II of the frame of themotor, and is arranged to be actuated by means of a piston I 5 having, a piston rod I6 connected to the free end ll of said lever 25 as by means of a link I8. Thepiston I5 is arranged to reciprocate within a fixedly mounted cylinder I9, suitable obturating means 2' being provided for preventing now of gas around the piston I5, and suitable packing means 2I being 30 provided in the inner head 22 of said cylinder for the piston rod It. Means is provided for urging the'starting mechanism toward operative position in the form of a spring 23 bearing against the piston I5 and the outer head 24 of the cylinder I9, whereby the pinion 8 is normal-. 1y meshed with the engine gear I. Means are further provided for rendering the starting mech anism inoperative responsive to self operation of the engine, such means being here shown to comprise conduits 25 and 26 arranged to connect the opposite ends of cylinder I9 to the engine exhaust and intake manifolds respectively of the engine whereby the pressure differential caused by the self operation of the engine causes the piston- I5 to be moved to the left against the pressure of spring 23, thus disengaging the pinion 8 from theflywheel gear I as illustrated in Fig. 2.

According to the present invention, manually controllable means for retaining the starting mechanism in inoperative position is provided comprising a latching device and a manual switch 21 for controlling the starting operation, which switch is preferably as indicated the ignition switch for the internal combustion engine. Switch 21 is arranged to control the position of the starting mechanism by means of an electric latch indicated generally by numeral 28, and is arranged to control the energization of the starting motor as by means of a solenoid 29 which operates the starting switch 5.

Referring first to the electric latch 28, one form of such device is here illustrated as comprising a plunger 3| having an armature 32 normally maintained in its lower position as illustrated in Fig. 1 by suitable means such as a spring 33 but arranged to be raised into locking position as shown in Fig. 2 by means of a solenoid 34 controlled through the lead 35 from the ignition switch 21 whereby closure of said switch renders said latch operative. Plunger 3| is provided with a latching shoulder 36 adapted to engage an abutment 31 on the piston rod l6 when the plunger 3| is in its upper position, such engagement being arranged to hold the piston IS in its releasing position, thus maintaining the pinion 8 out of engagement with the gear 1 as shown in Fig. 2. Upon deenergization of solenoid 34 by the opening of ignition switch 21, the spring 33 is adapted to release the shoulder 36 from the abutment 31 and allow the return of the piston i5 to its normal position by means of the spring The control circuit for solenoid 29 comprises a lead 38 from the ignition switch 21, a switch 39 arranged 'to be closed by the lever |2 when in its normal or idle position, and a ground connection 4| to complete said circuit. The starting motor i may thus be energized by closure of the ignition switch 21 when the cranking connection is in operative condition. Suitable means such as a spring 42 is provided for opening the switch 39 when the lever I2 is moved to demesh the pinion 8 whereby the solenoid 29 is deenergized and the starting switch 5 is opened.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, starting with the parts in their normal or idle positions as illustrated in Fig. 1, closure of the ignition switch 21 causes closure of the starting switch 5 by reason of the energization of solenoid 29, whereby the starting motor is energized to crank the engine. During this cranking operation, a certain amount of vacuum is created in the engine intake which will be transmitted through the conduit 26 to the cylinder |9, but it will be understood that this vacuum is entirely inadequate to overcome the spring 23 to move the piston to its disengaging position, and since there is substantially negligible pressure in the exhaust manifold during cranking; the piston |5 remains in its normal position and the cranking of the engine continues uninterruptedly.

Closure of the ignition switch 21 also energizes the solenoid 34 of latch 28 whereby plunger 3|- is raised so that the locking shoulder 36 engages the piston rod l6 and lies in the path of the abutment 31.

When the engine becomes self-operative, the increase in vacuum in the intake manifold and the generation of pressure in the exhaust manifold combine to overcome the spring 23 and move the piston Hi to the left causing the pinion 8 to be withdrawn from mesh with the engine gear I. At this time the movement of the piston red It causes the abutment 31 to ride under the shoulder 36 of plunger 3| whereby the piston rod I6 is latched in its disengaging or engine-running position. The disengaging motion of the lever l2 releases the switch 39 causing the circuit of solenoid 29 to be broken, thus opening the starting switch 5 and causing the motor to be deenergized. As long as the ignition switch 21 remains closed, the parts of the starting mechanism are maintained in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 with the starting switch open and the cranking connection in disengaged position. When the ignition switch is opened to stop the engine, the latching solenoid 34 is deenergized, allowing the spring 33 to move the plunger 3| to its idle position, thus releasing the piston rod l6 which returns to its idle position when the intake vacuum and exhaust pressure have become dissipated due to the stopping of the engine. The pinion 8 is thus caused to remesh with the flywheel gear I, and the switch 39 is reclosed so that the parts resume their normal or idle positions as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which provision is made for maintaining the cranking connection inoperative when the ignition switch is opened, by preventing the reengagement of the starting pinion with the engine gear, such reengagement being caused to take place upon subsequent reclosure of the ignition switch. For this purpose, the plunger 3| is provided with a second shoulder 43 adapted to engage a second abutment 44 on the piston rod l6, this abutment 44 being arranged slightly to the rear of the abtument 31 with respect to the meshing movement of the piston rod IS. The remaining elements of the structure are similar to those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and are simi larly numbered, the intake and exhaust manifolds 45 and 46 of the engine 41 being also illustrated.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is the same as that previously described insofar as the starting operation is concerned. However, upon opening of the ignition switch 21 to stop the engine, the release of the plunger 3| causes the shoulder 43 to move into the path of the abutment 44 whereby the starting mechanism is maintained out of its operative position after the engine stops.

Upon reclosure of the ignition switch 21, the solenoid 34 raises the plunger 3|, thus releasing the abutment 44, but since the abutment 31 has moved beyond the position where it could be I engaged by the shoulder 36, the piston rod I6 is released'and the starting mechanism moved by the spring 23 into operativepositlon. Cranking and demeshing thereupon take place as hereinbefore described.

It will be noted that in the embodiments of the invention heretofore set forth, the current is permitted to flow continually through the latch solenoid 34 to maintain said latch operative.

as long as the ignition switch remains closed. It will be understood that the solenoid will prererably be so designed that this current flow will be insignificant and unobjectionable. However, there is illustrated in Fig. 4 an embodiment of the invention in which an electric latch is provided which is normally operative and calls for a merely momentary energization of the latchcontrolling solenoid for releasing the latch.

In this embodiment of the invention the parts of the starting mechanism and of the controlling means are the same as described in connection with Figs. .1 and 2 except that the latching elements 36a and 310 are formed on the upper side of the piston rod l6, and the ignition switch 21a is provided with a separate contact point 48 convided for disconnecting the ignition switch arm from the contact 48 when .the'switch arm is. re-

leased, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the operation of thisembodix'nent of the. invention, 'the starting operation is brought about by the operator moving the ignition switch 210 to close the ignition and starting relay circuits, and then moving said switch further against the spring so as to close the latch solenoid circuit through the contact 48, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The plunger 3| is thereupon raised to release the starting mechanism whereterrupted.

upon engagement of the cranking mechanism and energization of the starting motor take place.

Release of the ignition switch 21a by the operator allows the spring 5| to return it to the enginerunning position illustrated in Fig. 5. This causes the plunger 3| to be released and moved by the spring 33 to its lower position bringing the shoulder iliainto the path of the abutment 31a. The cranking of the engine continues however since the circuit for the starting relay is not in- When the engine starts, the piston I5 is moved to the left into its disengaged position as above described, and is latched in that position by the elements 36a and 31a regardless of the subsequent stopping of the engine and/or the opening of the ignition switch. Restarting is obtainable at any time by the manipulation of the ignition switch to engage the contact 48 as above described.

It will be understood that in all the embodiments of the invention illustrated, if the engine fails to start, cranking may be interrupted by opening the ignition switch.

Although certain embodiments of the inven tion have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and that various changes may be made in the details and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims, the parts illustrated being shown more or less diagrammatically in order to show the function thereof to the best advantage.

What is claimed is:-

1. In an engine starter control, starting gearing, yielding means constantly urging said gearing toward operative position, means responsive to self-operation of the engine for moving said gearing to'inoperative position, means for positively retaining the starter gearing in inoperative position and manually controlled means. for releasing said retaining means.

2. In an engine starter control, starting gearing, means urging said starting gearing toward operative position, means responsive to self -oper ation of the engine for moving said gearing to inoperative position, a latch for retaining the ing said connecting means inoperative.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine, having an ignition mechanism including a manually operable ignition switch, starting mechanism thereforjincluding a motor and means for, connecting the motor to crank the engine,

operation of the engine for moving said connecta ing means into inoperative position, and a latch controlled by said ignition switch for holding said connecting means in inoperative position.

5. An electrical starting system for internal combustion engines including a battery, a motor, means for connecting said motor wlth'a member of an engineto be started, means for biasing the connecting means toward operative position, means for holdingthe connecting means in inoperative position, means for energizing the starting system when the connecting means is in operative position, and manually operable means for controlling the release-of the holding means and the energization of the starting system.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and means for connecting the motor to crank the engine, yielding means constantly urging the connecting means into operative condition, means for energizing the stafting motor when the connecting means is in operative condition, means responsive'to self operation of the engine for rendering said connecting means inoperative, and manually controllable means for positively maintaining the connecting means inoperative and for controlling the energization of the starting motor.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, anignition system-therefor including an ignition switch, starting mechanism therefor in eluding a starting motor and means for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means for urging the connecting means into operative position, meansfor energizing the starting motor when the connecting means is in operative position, means responsive to self-operation of the engine for rendering said connecting means inoperative, means including a latch for holding the connecting means in inoperative position, and means rendering said latch operative upon closure of theignition switch.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an ignition system therefor including an ignition switch starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and means for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means for urging the connecting means into operative position, means for energizing the starting motor when the connecting means is in operative position, means responsive to self-operation of the engine for rendering said connecting means in operative, means including a latch for holding the connecting means in inoperative position,

means rendering said latch operative upon 010-" engine for rendering said connecting means inoperative, means including a latch for holding the connecting means in inoperative position, means rendering said latch operative upon closure of the ignition switch, and means for maintaining the connecting means ininoperative position when the ignition switch is opened, but operative on reclosure of said switch to release the connecting means and allow it to move to operative position.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an ignition system therefor including an ignition switch, starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and means for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means for urging the connecting means into operative position, means for energizing the starting motor when the connecting means is in operative position, means responsive to self-operation of the engine for rendering said connecting means inoperative, means including a normally operative latch for holding the connecting means in inoperative position, and means rendering said latch inoperative by closing movement of the ignition switch.

WILLIAM L. McGRA'I'H. 

